Hey there!
Welcome to But First Chai, my corner of the internet! I'm Famidha, the creator and curator behind this space. Mr. F is my other half and the unpaid taste-tester.
This little blog is an excuse to combine my love for cooking new dishes and writing recipes.
My early cooking lessons started at home as sous chef to Mom! I spent my 20s in the corporate world away from folks. I loved coming back to my tiny kitchen and making dinner for two (me and my flatmate). Between my full-time job as an Instructional Designer and the flour-filled counter, it became obvious that cooking was therapeutic to me, and my kitchen (wherever it is) is my refuge.
Around 2014, I quit my job to start a new journey with my husband (Mr. F) in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. In no time, I got inspired by the culture, people and the whole Middle Eastern food world. That's when I started this blog as a journal of food recipes.
But First Chai
In 2019, we moved to Abu Dhabi, UAE and I decided to work full-time on the blog so changed the blog to But First Chai (previously called My Life in Yanbu). My diverse background is the reason you will find recipes focused on South Asia and the Middle East.
The reason I call this blog But First Chai is because we both are chai lovers and good things start with a cup of chai, right? I remember the day I was contemplating on what to call this blog while I was sipping my morning chai and it was a bulb moment - "but first chai" was born. Yeah, so random.
Because it is just two of us, my recipes are portioned into small batches that two foodies with great appetites can indulge in. This means a family of three or four with kids can use the same measurements. But on a serious note, I have been told that my written recipes are easy to follow without a video. (perks of having worked as an Instructional Designer writing training materials). I know currently, everything is accompanied by a video but I am yet to get that game started. I may never. You never know!
What will you find here?
You will find recipes that will be the show stopper of your next family lunch, like Yemeni Chicken Mandi or Kacchi Mutton Biryani. You will also find plenty of desserts that are in small batches so you don't overindulge. And lots of sweet and savoury snacks for all mental states.
My recipes avoid boxed spice mixes so you don't have to buy a whole box only to use a little. As I post after testing a few times, I share what Not to do to perfect your cooking. No diet food here and no qualms about using butter and ghee. If you want to learn to cook new recipes, then dive in here and get inspired.
Most Popular Recipes
- Keema Biryani Recipe
- Vellayappam Recipe with Yeast
- Tiramisu without Mascarpone (No Eggs, No Alcohol!)
- Ghraybeh Cookies
- Homemade Chaat Masala Recipe
- Chicken Tikka Biryani
- Beef Shami Kabab Recipe (Instant Pot)
- Chicken Hyderabadi Curry Recipe (dum ka murgh)
- Dejaj Salona | Emirati Chicken and Vegetable Stew
- Om Ali Recipe (Mini Croissants)
- Neypathal - Malabar Deep-Fried Rice Bread
- Gond ke Ladoo with Ragi and Atta flour
CONTACT ME
I would love to hear from you, whether you have a recipe request or are interested in collaborating. Email me at famidha at butfirstchai dot com.
CONNECT
You can also find me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Note: All the pictures shared on this blog and the content in it are my own unless clearly stated otherwise. Reproducing in part or whole without my permission is a violation of my intellectual property. If you like to include my content in something then reach out and I am happy to work with you!